Apparatus for cleaning garments



Jan. 18, 1955 E. c. OLSON APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GARMENTS Filed NOV. 20. 1950 /8 KNVENTOR EINER C.OLSO\N ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,699,661 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GARMENTS Einer C. Olson, Milwaukee, Wis. Application November 20, 1950, Serial No. 196,661 2 Claims. (Cl. 68-205) This invention appertains to the cleaning of mens and womens garments, and more particularly to a novel device for facilitating the scrubbing of clothes in cleaning establishments.

In clothes cleaning establishments, garments are initially dry cleaned and if spots are not taken out in this process, then the garments go to the spotter who uses certain chemicals in effort to remove the spots. It often occurs, that spots, such as perspiration, are not removed either by the dry cleaning process or by the spotter, and in this instance, it is necessary to take the garments out of the usual dry cleaning line, and these garments are then Wetwashed and then laid flat on tables and scrubbed with a scrubbing brush. After scrubbing and rinsing in tubs, the garments are tossed into an extractor which leaves the garments in a mass of wrinkles, necessitating great effort and care in ironing. The taking of the garments out of the usual line of cleaning for wet-washing, is highly objectionable and also necessitates the employment of a eparate operator for the wet-washing and scrubbing job.

It is, therefore, one of the primaryobjects of my invention to provide a novel means in the general line of the movement of the garments through the cleaning establishment and at the spotter stand for permitting the effective scrubbing anddraining of garments needing wetwashing. i

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a wet-washing device for garments embodying a vertically disposed scrub board forming a continuation of a water collection tub, means being provided for supporting a garment on a hanger flat against the vertical scrub board.

Another important object of the invention, is the provision of means for spreading the garment flat against the scrub board, so that the garment will closely adhere thereto upon the wetting thereof, whereby the garment can be scrubbed with soapy water both longitudinally and transversely, as may be required.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a shower stall for facilitating the wet cleaning of garments embodying a vertically disposed smooth, flat scrub plate terminating in a water collecting drain tub and shower pipes novelly disposed in the stall for facilitating the initial wetting of the garment and the rinsing thereof after the soapy scrubbing operation.

A further important object of the invention is to provide means for cutting 01f certain portions of spray pipes, whereby the Wetting and rinsing of only portions of garments can be had, where the garments are only soiled in certain places, such as perspiration stains in the knees of mens trousers, the tub permitting the quick swishing of the bottom of garments therein when necessary to effect a more complete rinsing of garment bottoms.

A still further object of the invention, is the provision of tanks supported by the tub for containing cleaning solutions, such as soapy water and a digesting solution.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision of a shower stall for facilitating the wet cleaning of garments which can be conveniently placed adjacent to the spotter stand, so that the spotter can attend to both the wet-washing of garments and the spot cleaning of garments.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a novel device for facilitating the wet cleaning of garments which will be durable and eflicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market and installed in a dry cleaning establishment at a low cost.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved shower stall for facilitating the wet cleaning of garments.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view therethrough, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter S generally indicates my novel stall for facilitating the wet-washing of garments. This stall S is secured to a Wall, or any other desired upright support 5, as is clearly shown in the drawing.

The stall S includes a vertically disposed flat smooth rear wall 6 having formed on its side edges outwardly extending side walls 7. The upper edges of the sidewalls 7 and the rear wall 6 are connected by a top wall 8. The lower end of the rear Wall 6 is continued downwardly and then upwardly, as at 9 and 10, to form the bottom and front Wall of a combination water collection trough and tub ill. The lower ends of the side Walls 7 are continued forwardly, as at 12 to form the sides of the tub 11. it is preferred to construct the stall S from stainless steel, but obviously, the stall can be made from other material, but it is essential to provide the rear wall 6 with a smooth outer exposed face, so that garments can be smoothed out flat thereon, and so that such garments will adhere thereto during the scrubbing operation, as will again be set forth. The rear wall 6 functions as a scrub board and is of a sufficient height to receive flat against the same a full length garment, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. This rear wall 6, has connected therewith adjacent to its upper end and at its longitudinal center, a headed fastening element 13 so that a clothes hanger 14, carrying a garment 14', can be suspended within the stall flat against the rear wall.

it is also preferred to form the trough and tub 11 in such manner that the same will support a tank 15 for a soapy water solution and a tank 16 tor a digesting solu-' tion. This can be accomplished in various ways, but as illustrated, the upper edge of the tub can be flanged over, as at 17 to provide a rest. The upper central part of the tub has connected therewith a T-shaped bar 18. The rear end of this bar is secured to an L-shaped angle iron 19, the terminals of which are secured to the side walls of the tub. The upper ends of the tanks 15 and 16 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 2i), and these flanges 20 rest upon the flange 17 of the rub, the T-shaped bar 18 and the angle bar 19. As these tanks 15 and 16 are arranged at the front of the tub, the same can be conveniently reached by an operator. The tub 11 is provided with a drain pipe 21 and the flowing of water therethrough can be controlled by a valve 22. Normally Water is allowed to collect in the tub to a certain desired level.

Means is associated with the stall to permit the initial wettmg of a garment and then the rinsing of a garment and this means consists of an overhead water supply pipe 23 located centrally above the stall. Arranged directly within the stall is an inverted U-shaped shower pipe 24, and this pipe includes an upper transversely extending stretch 25 and depending vertical stretches 26. These stretches 25 and 26 are provided with a series of angularly related openings 27 on their inner faces so that when water is emitted therefrom sprays will be directed toward the rear wall 6 and onto a garment at different angles to permit the thorough spraying of a garment at all points. It is to be noted that the side vertical stretches 26 have interposed in their lengths and substantially at a midway point, control valves 2 3. Leading from the water supply pipe 23 are water conduit pipes 29, which communicate as at 30 with the lower ends of the vertical stretches 26. Flow of water through the pipes 29 is controlled by hand valves 31. The water supply pipe 23 is also connected to the upper end of the shower pipe 24 by a branch pipe 32, and flow of water to the branch pipe is controlled by a hand valve 33. By opening the valves '28, 31 and 33, water is supplied to all parts of the shower pipe 24. When it is desired to only wash the upper part of a garment, or ablouse or the like, valves 28 and 31 are closed and the valve 33 is open and hence water will only be supplied to the stretch 25 and the upper portions of the stretches 26. When it is desired to supply water to the lower part of a garment, the valves 28 and 33 are closed and the valves 31 are opened.

. If desired, a shower curtain 34, indicated in dotted lines in Figure '2, can be used to partially enclose the stall and this curtain can be supported by an overhead bracket 35 secured to the support 5.

In use of my improved stall, the same is placed adjacent to the spotter table, as heretofore set forth, and when a garment is received by the spotter and he cannot clean the same with his ordinary chemicals, the garment is placed with its hanger 14 flat against the rear wall 6, by means of the headed element 13. The desired sprays are now turned on to permit the thorough saturation of all of the garment, or the desired portion thereof, and the garment is smoothed flat against said rear wall and it will be found that the garment will tenaciously cling thereto. The sprays can now be cut oil and the spotter takes a scrub brush and after the thorough immersing thereof in the soapy solution in the tank 15 the garment is scrubbed at the desired points. As the garment clings to the rear wall, the scrub brush can be moved in any direction without the necessity of the operator holding the garment. After the scrubbing thereof, the desired sprays are turned on to permit the rinsing of the garment, and if desired, the garment can be taken off of the support 13 and swished back and forth in the tub 11.

In actual practice, the spotter can suspend the dress or other garmenton the support 13, turn on the spray shower and continue with his spotting operation. After the elapse of the desired length of time, he can vthen turn around, cut off the spray shower, and scrub the garment and again turn on the rinsing spray. During the rinsing operation he can return to his spotting. In this way, the garment does not have to be taken out of the usual line of operation. After the rinsing operation and the cutting off of the spray, the garment can be slightly pulled away from the rear wall and left in the stall draining, and during this draining operation, the spotter can continue with the spotting work. The thorough draining of thegarment eliminates the necessity of taking the same to an extractor. After the garment is drained, the same is taken to the usual adjacent hot air blower and suspended thereover until the same is dry.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that Iv have provided a novel and efficient means for permitting the thorough wet-washing of a garment which can be conveniently placed in the-normal line of travel of garments through a dry cleaning establishment.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A device for, facilitating the wet Washing of stained garments in a cleaning establishment comprising a stall constituting a station in said cleaning establishment including a vertically disposed flat rear wall of a height and width to accommodate a full length garment, a tub carried by the lower end of said rear wall and constituting a continuation thereof, means for suspending a garment in the stall fiat against said rear wall, and an inverted U-shaped shower pipe disposed in said stall having a series of angularly related water outlets for directing sprays of water at different angles against a garment placed against said rear wall.

2. A device for facilitating the wet washing of stained garments as defined in claim 1, and means for cutting off the supply of water to different parts of said U-shaped shower pipe.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 39,029 Barnett June 30, 1863 335,601 Mann Feb. 9, 1886 735,840 Strelitzer Aug. 11, 1903' 883,132 Golf Mar. 24, 1908 1,074,567 Gantt Sept. 30, 1913 1,183,391 Mason May 16, 1916 1,221,137 Carney Apr. 3, 1917 1,224,024 Salisbury Apr. 24, 1917 1,408,812 Leighton Mar. 7, 1922 1,441,816 Luttrell Jan. 9, 1923 1,783,147 Barnard Nov. 25, 1930 2,329,623 Judy Sept. 14, 1943 2,408,749 Berg Oct. 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 390,727 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1933 843,940 France Apr. 11, 1939 849,920 France Aug. 28, 1939 102,030

Sweden July 15, 1941 

